25th May 2009How excited are we?! The first look at Taika Waititi's (Eagle vs Shark, Flight of the Conchords) '80s set, comedy-drama The Volcano.

Principle photography for the film, written and directed by Waititi, has wrapped in beautiful Waihau Bay and post production is now underway in Auckland.

This is the first image released from the film and introduces the three stars â€“ James Rolleston, Te Aho Eketone-Whitu and Waititi himself. The two boys play brothers Boy and Rocky, who are trying to find their potential whilst living in the shadow of their larger-than-life father Alamein, played by Waititi.

The Volcano is the first acting venture for Rolleston and Eketone-Whitu. Eketone-Whitu (8) is from the small town of Minginui near Rotorua, and Rolleston (11) is from Opotiki. Rolleston auditioned as an extra, but took on one of the lead roles in the final weeks before production began.

Waititi grew up in Waihau Bay, which provided some of the inspiration for The Volcano. Set in the 1980â€™s, The Volcano is a coming-of-age story, and is inspired by Waititiâ€™s short film Two Cars, One Night, which was nominated for an Oscar for Best Short Film in 2005. This will be released through Transmission Films in the first quarter of 2010 and has been licensed for subsequent TV broadcast by Maori Television.

On shooting The Volcano, Waititi says, â€œIt was a special experience taking my story home and making it with my friends and Whanau. The kids were great in their auditions, but their performances on set were groundbreaking. Nothing went wrong; the universe conspired to make this the most stress free shoot since River Queen. Iâ€™m still amazed nobody found out Iâ€™ve been winging it this whole time, I know absolutely nothing about film!â€

dandy lyons wrote:"...Iâ€™m still amazed nobody found out Iâ€™ve been winging it this whole time, I know absolutely nothing about film!â€

He fakes it well.

Can I just say that I really Taika. Not that I want to jump him, although he is easy on the eyes. I've just really enjoyed everything I've seen him do. He's talented and quirky and odd, and I dig that in a person.

The year is 1984, and on the rural East Coast of New Zealand â€œThrillerâ€ is changing kidsâ€™ lives. Inspired by the Oscar nominated Two Cars, One Night, BOY is the hilarious and heartfelt coming-of-age tale about heroes, magic and Michael Jackson.

When asked about the change from the working title, producer Ainsley Gardiner comments â€œAs we cut the film the performance from the lead, James Rolleston, was just so simple and powerful, that it felt like it needed the same in a title. â€˜Boyâ€™ just says it like it is.â€

Written and directed by Taika Waititi, BOY has just finished editing in Auckland. It was shot in beautiful Waihau Bay and sound post production is now underway in Wellington at Park Road Post.

Waititiâ€™s childhood in Waihau Bay provided much inspiration for BOY. On delivering the final cut of BOY Waititi comments, â€œIâ€™m looking forward to showing my whanau what they helped to create. I donâ€™t think they really knew what I did before that, even now, Iâ€™m not sure if they really know what theyâ€™ve done.â€

BOY is the debut feature for James Rolleston and Te Aho Eketone-Whitu.

Rolleston (11) is Boy, a dreamer who loves Michael Jackson and lives with his brother Rocky, and a tribe of deserted cousins and his Nan. Eketone-Whitu (8), plays Rocky who spends his days being weird, hanging out with his dead mother at the cemetery and working on controlling his magic powers, the ones that he believes put Mum there.

Boyâ€™s other hero, his father, Alamein (Waititi) is the subject of Boyâ€™s fantasies, and he imagines him a deep sea diver, war hero and a close relation of Michael Jackson (he can even dance like him). In reality heâ€™s â€˜in the can for robberyâ€™.

BOY will be released through Transmission Films on April 1st of 2010 - Summer, girls, drugs, gangsâ€¦itâ€™s not easy being 11.